Skirt-edge protector



Patented Oct. 1a, 1898.

No. 6l2,4l7. V

W. J. HAY. SKIRT EDGE PROTECTOR.

(Applicafiop filed. July 1, 1898.) (No Model.)

Ihvrrnn STATES SKIRT=EDGE PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 612,417, dated October 18, 1898. Application filed July 1, 1898. Serial No. 684,915. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that ,1, WILLIAM J. HAY, of Oshkosh, in the county of Winnebago and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Skirts, of which the followingis a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

In the manufacture of skirts for ladies dresses it is desirable to so finish the bottom edge of the skirt as to secure the most complete protection thereto against Wear, especially by contact with the floor or pavement, and as incidental thereto to so construct the protecting parts or members that there will be no sagging of the protecting devices or other parts, thus avoiding undesirable contact with the floor or pavement and also avoiding what would be an unsightly appearance or exposure of parts not intended to be exposed, and also (as dresses are now worn) to secure a staying and distending result in and by these parts without burdening the skirt with the additional weight of a cord or other stiffening devices. y

The object of the present invention is to provide means whereby these several results are most successfully and satisfactorily accomplished.

The invention consists of the construction, including the parts and combination of parts, as hereinafter described and claim ed, or their equivalents.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of two members of the devices employed in my invention in such relation to each other as they have at an early time in the building or putting of the parts together in the complete form. Fig. 2 is a front view of a fragment of the same parts shown in cross-section in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the improved device or construction in complete form secured to the bottom of the skirt. Fig. 4 is an inside View of the same construction shown in Fig. 3 and includes a fragment of a skirt and the improved devices attached thereto. Fig. 5 is an outside view of the members and construction shown in Figs. '3 and at. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of such members of the invention as are exhibited in Fig. 3, but secured together in a slightlydifferent form and relation to each other than as shown in Fig. 3.

In the drawings, A is a strip of cloth or other flexible material employed in this construction and known as the facing. This facing is folded near its lower edge, and a portion A, forming a flap of the facing, is turned upwardly, forming a groove between this flap and the body of the facing, into and along which groove a strip of flexible material or binding B is placed, and the two members are secured together conveniently by a line of stitching O. This binding B is thereupon folded away from the facing A and about the fiap A, bending and folding with it so much of the flap A as is above the stitching 0, and is brought around on the other or outer side of the facing A in the manner shown in Fig. 3 and is secured to the facing A at or near its edge that is, against the outer side of the facing A-conveniently by means of a row of stitching D, forming a covering over the folded edge of the facingpiece. The outer or face surface of this facing A (and the binding B) is then placed against the outer surface of the dress-skirt E in such manner as to project therefrom in the general direction of an extension or length ening of the skirt, and is then secured thereto and to the lining F (when such lining is used) conveniently by a row of stitching G. Thereupon the skirt E, with its lining F, is folded and doubled inwardly at 1-1 against itself, the facing A and binding B being thereby carried around to the position shown in Fig. 3, the facing A being then secured at or near its upper edge to the dress-skirt by sewing it to the skirt or the lining thereof, as shown at I. It will be noted that the result of this construction is to form by means of the binding and facing a rib or roll that projects a little below the lower edge of the skirt and that projects inwardly therefrom, this roll or rib being by its construction and disposition with reference to the skirt peculiarly and especially adapted to serve as a protector to the skirt against its contact against the floor or pavement when being worn as a dressskirt and also as a distender or stay holding the edgeof the skirt out in proper and desirable position, while at the same time, by reason of its peculiar construction and attachment to the skirt, this roll or rib will not sag or allow the facing to drop below the skirt or binding to thereby be unduly exposed to sight or to come in contact with the floor 0r pavement.

In the modified form of construction shown in Fig. 6 so much of the flap A of the facing A as extends considerably above the line of stitching C, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is omitted, and the binding B in being doubled over the lower edge of the facing A does not double or fold any part of the facing with it. Otherwise the two constructions are alike.

WVhat I claim as my invention is 1. The combination with a dress-skirt, of a facing-piece folded near its edge forming a groove and a complementary rib, a coveringpiece inserted in the groove and sewed to the facing-strip against it on both sides, said covering-piece being folded over and about the folded edge or rib of the facing and sewed to the other surface of the facing, said facing and covering piece includingthe roll formed thereby being secured to the skirt forming a laterally inwardly projecting roll at the bottom of the skirt.

2. A dress protector and distender comprising a facing-strip folded near its edge forming a groove and complementary rib, and a covering-piece the edge of which is inserted in said groove and is sewed to the facing-strip at both sides thereof, said covering-piece being therefrom folded about the folded edge or rib of the facing-strip and sewed at its other edge to the other surface of the facingstrip forming a laterally-projecting roll.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

XVILLIAM J. HAY.

Witnesses:

ELLA MARBLE, THURLow CRAWFORD. 

